Cup shock and Evergreen make away trip in Leinster Junior Cup - Kilkenny Soccer Wrap

Last weekend delivered the usual mix of goals and incident both domestically and in outside competition for Kilkenny teams.
The biggest shocks of the weekend involved the two titans of local soccer of the past 20 years, Evergreen and Freebooters.

Evergreen relinquished their Leinster Junior Cup title at the hands of Clonmullion away from home while Newpark took the city bragging rights with a home win over Freebooters.

LEINSTER JUNIOR CUP:

Clonmullion 2, Evergreen 1 - The dream of winning a two in a row provincially came to a heartbreaking end for Gary Maher’s team as a goal in either half was enough for the hosts to book their place in the next round.

Cody Mulhall opened the scoring for Clonmullion on the 23rd minute with the clinching second goal arriving courtesy of sub Daniel Thompson 25 minutes into the second half.

Evergreen did pull a goal back when Ify Nzewi netted for his second goal of the season on the 82nd minute but a late equaliser for the Kells Road materialised as they now turn their attention back to domestic matters.

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Callan United 0, Drogheda Town 2 - Two first half goals were enough to end the Kilkenny club’s hopes of advancing to the next round as a well organised Drogheda team made the long trip back to County Louth after achieving their objective of remaining in the competition.

Sean Berney and Conor Parkinson both converted passed experienced goalkeeper Brian Doheny in the Callan goal on the eighth and 36th minutes respectively.

Although no doubt disappointed, the loss means Callan United can focus on returning to winning ways in the Premier Division after losing four games in succession domestically.

Bridge United 3, Killavilla United 1 - Back to back McCalmont Cup champions Bridge United kept their hopes alive in provincial competition with a note-worthy win over their Offaly opponents.

Pierce Blanchfield broke the deadlock after five minutes, a lead the Goresbridge men would hold until half-time.

Player/manager Connor English doubled the home team’s lead via the penalty spot on the 52nd minute but any suggestion that game had been put to bed was proven wrong just mere seconds later.

The away team pulled a goal back on the 54th minute to make for a captivating last 40 plus minutes with the game truly in the balance.

The home support did eventually get an opportunity to take a sigh of relief when Matthew Murphy clinched victory

ST CANICE’S CREDIT UNION PREMIER DIVISION:

Lions A 6, Evergreen B 2 - The Durrow side recorded their fourth win of the season last Saturday night in a high scoring home win over their Kilkenny City opposition.

In the only Premier Division match played last weekend, Lions (fifth) beat an on paper at least inconsistent Evergreen B (eighth) who have three wins, a draw and five defeats so far this season.

Just two goals of the 90 came in the first half as Joseph Dempsey and John O’Brien gave the hosts a two goal cushion. But a brace from Patrick Daly and Conor Martin in the second 45 minutes secured all three points.

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